Federal, state and local officials broke ground July 26 on a levee project along the western shores of Lake Pontchartrain. It's designed to provide hurricane and storm protection to a three-parish area where 60,000 people have little to no defenses in place.

Updates about construction professionals in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.

Dodge offers data on projected 2021 construction starts in the New Orleans area.

Photographs chosen by our editors from submissions to ENR.com/texas-louisiana/photos

Arkansas highway expansion overcomes a time-consuming triple culvert, weak soils, supplier slowdowns and even endangered mussels.

ENR Texas & Louisiana’s Contractor of the Year powers forward, growing through pandemic-related challenges while also marking its 25th anniversary.

The challenges of 2020 forced contractors to be nimble, and now regional firms are seeing signs of a promising remainder of 2021.

For its incredible growth during 2020, dedication to its employees and clients, and focus on making a positive impact on its market sectors and local communities, Swinerton has been named by ENR Texas & Louisiana as 2021 Contractor of the Year.

Contractors doing business in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas will be featured in the Aug. 2 print issue of ENR Texas & Louisiana in the region's annual Top Contractors ranking.